Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 952-854-5900 |
Species of plants that are not native are considered exotic and can be detrimental to native plant communities and the wildlife that depend on them. Exotics take advantage of conditions that allow them to have a competitive edge over natives. In the absence of control methods, these plants can overwhelm native communities.
Those plants which pose the greatest threat to Minnesota Valley are leafy spurge, buckthorn and purple loosestrife. Leafy spurge invades prairies and savannas, buckthorn displaces valuable wet meadow, fen and forest plants, while purple loosestrife thrives in wetlands. Several methods can be used to control these pests including chemicals, manual and mechanical cutting, uprooting and biological agents.
The Refuge uses all of these methods of control. Where small outbreaks of purple loosestrife and leafy spurge threaten uninfested areas, chemical is used to remove the threat as quickly as possible. Other areas of loosestrife and spurge have beetles released into them that target these plants specifically. This is proving to be a very cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to control exotics. In the case of buckthorn, work crews are used to cut the plants and fire or chemical can be used to prevent regrowth.
The control of exotic species of plants at Minnesota Valley has become a top priority as it has become apparent that all other forms of resource management will be compromised in the face of exotic species invasion.
